All-rounder off to Cambridge as Myers Scholar

Media release
26 March 2010

All-rounder off to Cambridge as Myers Scholar

William Tennent, head boy and dux at New Plymouth Boys’ High School last year, has won the prestigious Douglas Myers Scholarship to Cambridge University in England.

He was awarded the scholarship, worth $100,000 a year, for 2010 to attend Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge. There he will spend the next three years studying for a bachelor of arts in economics.

Sir Douglas Myers, a Cambridge alumnus, established the scholarship ten years ago for academically distinguished students with leadership potential in their chosen field who plan to return to New Zealand.

William, the son of New Plymouth Mayor and Mayoress Peter and Rosemary Tennent, was the first head boy at New Plymouth Boys’ to be dux since 1956 and only the third in its history. Throughout his five years at school he consistently came top in economics and mathematics, his two favourite subjects, as well as in English, accounting, physics, history and French.

In last year’s NCEA examinations he gained two “outstanding” scholarships in accounting and statistics, and two scholarships in economics and calculus.

William was also prominent in sport, co-captaining the school’s adventure racing team which won two national titles. He was the Taranaki secondary schools’ cycling champion, leading the school team which took the teams’ title. As well he had Taranaki placings in rogaining, orienteering, cross country, triathlon and duathlon while playing cricket, soccer, rugby and basketball socially.

In public speaking he topped the school in Years 10 and 13, and he gained the top senior grade in Taranaki last year in the Trinity College Speech Exams. He led the school debating team and played the saxophone in the school’s bands.

Last year he took part in the Global Young Leaders’ Conference in the United States.

This semester he is enrolled in accounting, economics, statistics and law papers at the University of Auckland.

William says he is “absolutely overwhelmed” to have been awarded such a prestigious scholarship. “It was such an honour as all the short-listed candidates had done amazing things in their time at school.

“This scholarship will give me the opportunity to go to one of the most prestigious colleges at one of the top universities in the world. I will be interacting with some of the world’s future leaders, and doing my best to be a credit to Sir Douglas, Taranaki, and New Zealand.

“I am so grateful to Sir Douglas and the members of the panel for selecting me, but also my teachers, coaches, friends and family, who have supported and encouraged me to be in a position even to be considered for this scholarship.”

On finishing his university studies William wants to enter investment banking and take an active role in community leadership.

Past Myers scholars are now working at a high level in such fields as manufacturing, management consulting and project management while others have advanced to doctoral study.

Applications for the scholarships are handled by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC). The deadline for applications is 1 December. More information on the scholarship can be found on the NZVCC website at www.nzvcc.ac.nz

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